Regional transit agency seeks county operating support as vehicle costs climb
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Summary
Julia Castillo, executive director of HRDA, told Madison County supervisors that rising vehicle prices and an aging fleet strain service; HRDA sought roughly $17,000 in operating support plus an approximate $10,000 capital match to replace vehicles and maintain rural routes.
Julia Castillo, executive director of the regional transit agency HRDA, told Madison County supervisors that the service logged 4,585 rides in 2024 for county residents and operates with a 95% on‑time performance rate but faces mounting vehicle and maintenance costs. "We did 4,585 rides. That was 124 unique riders," Castillo said, adding that volunteer drivers contributed 416 hours valued at about $11,989.
The agency described a sharp rise in vehicle prices since the pandemic and the funding constraints that follow federal procurement rules. "For vehicles, the federal government typically pays 80% and local match is 20%," Castillo said, noting that prices for small transit vans have increased from roughly $90,000 pre‑pandemic to more than $170,000–$200,000 now.
HRDA asked the board to consider operating support to sustain service in Madison County and to contribute to a capital match for vehicle replacement. In the discussion, supervisors and HRDA staff parsed a request that was described in the meeting packet as roughly $17,000 in additional operating funds plus an estimated $10,000 capital match (the presenters described the combined figure as approximately $27,000). Castillo said the operating funds help cover drivers, routine maintenance and the local match required to leverage federal replacement dollars.
Supervisors pressed HRDA on how county funds would be used and whether municipalities covered by HRDA could add smaller contributions. Castillo and business manager Brooke Ramsey said Winterset has contributed $10,000 in recent years but that other towns in the seven‑county service area have not consistently provided financial support. Ramsey said HRDA is pursuing sustainability planning with Iowa State University to map longer‑term funding approaches and right‑size the fleet to county demand.
Board members suggested HRDA send a formal written request and a clearer budget breakdown showing operating versus capital uses, as well as historic county‑level ridership and cost trends for the past five years. HRDA agreed to provide the requested documentation.
The board took no formal vote on HRDA's request during the workshop; next steps discussed were to receive the detailed packet and consider the request during the county's budget process.